Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 40

Axel POV

I wake up to the tantalising smell of bacon being fried. I stretch out lazily before I get out of bed and put on my pants.

I do not want to get ahead of myself, but I am fairly certain Liana connected with my wolf last night. She just does not know it yet. I am still going to be cautious to be on the safe side, but I am convinced Wyatt is out of her system and she is starting to feel our mate bond. Either that or I am fooling myself and misreading her signals from last night. Maybe I am hopefully optimistic. I do not know, but I sure as hell am going to replace out.

This week I will settle the mess Dad created with Jack and then I am going to devote all of my attention to Liana and our mate bond.

Liana is softly humming while she is scrambling eggs when I walk into the kitchen.

"A man can get used to this," I put my arms around her waist and kiss her softly on her neck.

"As long as you can get used to doing the dishes afterwards," she laughs.

"Carol is a bad influence," I sigh theatrically as I take a seat at the table.

"One negative word about her, and you're not eating," Liana warns me with raised eyebrows.

"I'm taking it back," I laugh as I throw my hands up defensively.

"That's better," she pouts as she places a fully loaded plate in front of me. "And you can thank her for the delicious eggs - it's her recipe."

"Hmm, I need to taste it first," I tease, and she rolls her eyes as she takes a seat.

I do not say much as we enjoy our breakfast together. Partially because the food is delicious and partially because I do not want to ruin the moment we are sharing. I do not want to leave this cottage, but I have responsibilities waiting for me at home. I just know Angela would have told my parents about last night and they will demand an explanation. Not that I will give them any. If they replace out who and what Liana really is to me, they will make her life a living hell.

"This was great, thank you," I smile as I push my empty plate aside. "Unfortunately, I have guests at home waiting for me."

"You're just worming yourself out of dishwashing duty," she laughs as she stands up and gathers the plates.

"Believe me, dishes sound much more exciting than Angela and her family," I chuckle.

Liana's hands are still for a moment before she turns to me with a bright smile.

"Don't let me keep you then," she starts rinsing the plates.

"I'll see you tomorrow at work," I walk over to her and put my arms around her waist.

"And thank you, this was great," I kiss her lovingly before I leave.

Liana POV

Boom! And just like that, the serenity in my heart shatters with one word - Angela. The second the door closes behind Axel; I leave the dirty dishes and storm to my bedroom. I inhale and exhale deeply as I pace up and down. Axel is on his way to Angela. His future bride and Luna. And the thought is eating me alive.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think this will happen. When I signed the agreement, it was about Dad's surgery and my future. Never about this... never about love. How the fuck did this happen?

Infuriated with myself, I take a shower and get dressed. I need to get out of here. It feels like I am smothering. Everywhere I look I can feel him, see him, smell him.

How could I be this stupid? Did I not learn anything from the whole Wyatt episode?

I grab my handbag and walk to the bus stop.

Falling in love with Axel was not on my to-do list. Of all the moronic things I could have done, this takes the cake. And I do not need a colourful presentation to explain to me that he will never love me. It is obvious. He is the future alpha with obligations and expectations. I am not his mate, and worse, I am a human. I will only waste my time hoping that he could love me.

I get onto the first bus that arrives. I do not care in which direction it is going - it is not like I have a destination in mind. I just want to escape this aching pain in my soul.

I stare absentmindedly out of the window as I try to figure out when and where I went wrong. But my mind does not want to function beyond Axel's kind eyes and smile. Dammit, I am such a hopeless case.

The bus comes to a stop, and I am astounded to recognise the campus in a very festive ambience. Curiously, I get off the bus and go closer. Live music fills the air and mixes with passerby's laughter. Colourful stalls are everywhere selling homemade products. Everything from food to beer, clothes and even soaps.

Leisurely I wander from one stall to the next, admiring all the craftsmanship.

"We meet again," a voice says behind me, and I swing around.

"Mr Collins," I smile politely when I recognise him.

"Please," he looks like he is in pain. "Call me Luther. We're not in class now."

"Okay, then," I nod. "Goodbye, Luther."

I turn around and start walking.

"I still want to know your name," he falls in next to me.

"And I still don't see the need for you to know it," I keep on walking.

"Don't you think it's a little awkward for us to spend the day together when I don't know your name?" He smiles brightly at me.

"I do not recall inviting you to spend the day with me," I raise my eyebrows.

"Fine," he sighs theatrically. "Will you please have a drink with me? Anything, beer, coffee, water, your choice."

"Listen," I stop and turn to face him. "I don't want to be rude, but what for?"

"Because I want to get to know you better," he replies nonchalantly. "And truthfully, you look sad."

"You're wasting your time," I plaster the biggest smile on my face. It is unnerving to think he knows how I feel. "I'm not interested."

"Can you honestly tell me you don't need a friend?" He smirks.

"Oh, please," I roll my eyes and start walking again. "No man in history has ever harassed a woman because he wants to be her friend."

"That's a wild assumption," he gives me an appalled look.

"Really?" I laugh. "Give me one example."

"Me," he replies smugly. "Have a drink with me and I can prove it to you."

"Are you always so persistent?" I sigh.

"Are you always so stubborn?" He wiggles his eyebrows.

"Yes," I cross my arms in front of my chest. "As a matter of fact, I am."

"Now that we've established that, what would you like to drink?" He smiles smugly at me.

I look at him for a moment. I do not believe for one second that he is pursuing this in the name of friendship. But does it even matter? I do not care how persistent he is, I am not interested. So, what harm could it do to have a drink with him? It might just be what I need to distract me from my disastrous love life. "Fine," I give in after a while. "One drink."

"Great," he gives me the biggest smile. "There's a beer stand..."

"Nope," I cut him off. "Non-alcoholic. You're arrogant enough sober."

"This way then," he directs me in the opposite direction. "They're selling fresh juice with no preservatives."

"Now will you tell me your name?" He asks as we fall in line by the juice stand.

"Liana," I reply.

"Finally," he clamps his heart and I laugh softly.

He steps forward and buys us each drink.

"So, tell me about yourself," he invites as we replace an open table.

"I'm really not an interesting person," I laugh. No way I am going to share my life's story with him. "I work and I study. That's it."

"Where do you work?" He seems genuinely interested.

"Silver Enterprises," I reply and for a moment he looks surprised. "Now something about you."

"Let's see," he smirks as he looks at me. "I'm the maverick of the family. I refused to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors and get a business degree. And believe me, as the oldest son, it's punishable by death." "You look pretty alive to me," I laugh softly.

"You'll change your opinion when you witness a family event," he sighs. "Except for a few cousins, I'm mainly ignored."

"That's terrible," I look at him in shock.

"It's the path I chose," he shrugs nonchalantly but there is no smugness. "I want to be happy. My family can either embrace it or forget about me. It's their choice."

"You're honestly going to sit there and tell me that it doesn't bother you one teensy bit that your family doesn't approve of your choices?" I raise my eyebrows. "It sounds made-up."

"Oh, it's true and I hate it," he chuckles. "It breaks me every birthday when none of them bothers to even send me a message. Except for my one cousin, he's cool. He always phones and sends a gift."

"This is an awfully personal conversation to have on a first meeting," I clear my throat.

"Second," he wiggles his eyebrows. "And unlike most people, I speak my mind and my life's an open book."

"Even when people call you rude?" I smile as I remember our first encounter.

"Especially when people call me rude," he laughs heartedly.

"Well, in the spirit of honesty, this was fun," I smile as I stand up. "Thank you, Luther."

"Are you going already?" He asks disappointed. "We just started talking."

"My drink is finished, and I need to get home," I reply. "Laundry might not be fun, but it's a priority."

"This isn't fair, you know," he grunts as he follows me when I start walking to the bus stop. "I still don't know a thing about you, and I told you plenty about myself."

"Luther," I stop and turn to face him. "You seem like a great guy, but you're wasting your time with me. And no, this is not me being stubborn, it's me being truthful."

"I don't like it when people make decisions on my behalf," he crosses his arms in front of his chest and all playfulness in his eyes is gone. "Including deciding how I spend or waste my time."

"And you're calling me stubborn," I roll my eyes before continuing towards the bus stop. "Fine, do what you want, but it doesn't change the fact that I must go home and don't say I didn't warn you." "I'll see you Tuesday," he shouts as I climb onto the bus.